Quincy Batson Cornelius

Quincy Batson Cornelius (78) died Tuesday, June 9th, at his home in Escondido, California. He is survived by his daughter, Valerie Cornelius, and son, Ryan Cornelius; his siblings, Cathy Jacobson, Connie Cornelius (Dave Ashby), Peggy Cornelius, Carol Sharp, Claudeen German (Neal), and Pauling Carter (Steve); his brother-in-law John Whitcomb and Quincy’s 10 nieces and nephews and 10 great-nieces and -nephews.

Quincy was born February 22, 1948, in Monte Vista, CO, to Quincy and Dorothy Cornelius. He grew up on the family farm near Hooper, CO, where he learned the value of hard work. As a youth, Quincy was active in 4-H and participated in both academic and sports activities at Sangre de Cristo High School. Following graduation, he attended the New Mexico Military Institute and Colorado State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Economics in 1971.

Quincy went on to earn his J.D. Law degree from the Lincoln University Law School in San Franciso in 1976 and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1978. His early work with the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance took him to communities recovering from natural disasters - including Guam where he met his wife, Betty Paguio. They were married in Hawaii in 1980 and later welcomed two children, Valerie Annette and Ryan William.

In 1981, Quincy opened his own private law practice in Escondido and provided civil litigation services to the community for 35 years. He was known for his diligence, fairness, and commitment to the clients he represented. He was a generous friend to many.

Quincy enjoyed fishing, fine wine, sports, and rock/roll music. He had a passion for horse racing and proudly participated as a joint owner of several thoroughbreds at Del Mar Racetrack. Fittingly, Quincy was recognized for his exclusive preference for cowboy boots – he owned 19 pairs of boots and wore them for all occasions. He will be sorely missed.

A private internment will take place at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido, and a Celebration of Life is planned for October. Messages of remembrance may be shared on the DignityMemorial.com website.